Electric water heater



Patented Nov. 20, i923.

gPariser orrice.

ALPHONSE MARTIN, OF OGDENSBURG, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER.

Application led March 14, 1922. Serial No. 543,672.'

To all whom t may concern Be itlniown that l, ALPHONSE MAR'riN, ot Ggdensburg, in the county of St. Lawrence, in the State oi New York, havev invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Water Heaters, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear,Y and exact description.

This invention relates to anelectric water heater` involving the use of an upright con tainer having an inlet and an outlet and cooperative. electrodes therein for producing an electric arc as the heating medium for the water which is admittedto the container together with thermo-electric means for controlling thecircuit and thereby control-.

line the temperature of the water.

'he main object is to provide a simple, compact and etlicient device of this character in which the water entering the container may be heated and maintained atauniform temperature ttor delivery at the outlet and at the same time to provide means whereby the temperature oi' the water may be varied at will by proper adjustment ot the therniostatic switch.

Another object is to place the electric arc close to the inlet oiE the container and to cause the inflowing water" to be distributed to a relatively narrow channel in and around the arc so that it may be heated and eX- panded toward the outlet immediately upon its entrance into the container.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts ot the apparatus will be brought out in the following description:

In the drawings: j j

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of an electric water heater embodyinr)Y the various features ot my invenA tion.

Figure is a top plan ol the saine device.

Figures i3 and 11: are horizontal sectional views taken, 1:espectively, in the planes of: lines Z3-3 and 4*4, Figure l.

As illustrated, this device comprises an upright cylindrical container l having; lower and upper end heads m2- and -3- removably secured to the adjacent ends of themain body of the`container by clamping bolts ile-1 The lower head -2 isprovided with an inlet nipple -5-V projecting laterally from one side thereof for securement to asuitable valve-case -6 which may be connected by a pipe 7-to any available source ot water supplyT and is provided with a valve 8* tor controlling said supply to the interior of the container 1 The container -1- is provided near its upper end with a laterally projecting discharge nozzle 9- of relatively small size as compared with the interior cross-sectional area ot the container,-said nozzle being open to permit the flow ot the heated water therethrough as may be regulated by the valve -8 orby the expansion ol the water in the container, the .inlet 5- being oi substantially the same cross-sectional area as the outlet to 'fallow the water to be heated to the desired temperature in the container when it reaches the desired level by the opening of the valve -8-.

A pair of terminals -`l0 and -llof an electric circuit are secured, respectively, in the lower and upper end heads -2- and in coaxial relation, the lower terminal being,- provided with anv enlarged inner socketed end -lQ- for receivingand supportinga carbon electrode -l3-- coaxially with the axis oit the tubular container section -l-.

The portion ot the terminal -10- extending through the adjacent head 2- is threaded and engaged by a nut -14=- to clamp said terminal rigidly in place and to permit it to be removed when necessary.

The upper terminal +11- is j ournaled in a bushing` -l5- in the adjacent end head -3- for rotary adjustment and is provided at its inner end with an eccentric contactmember -l6 cooperating` with the similar contact kmember l-- ot a thermostatic bar l8- which in turn extends lengthwiscV et and within the container .1- and has its lower end secured to a collar -19 carryinpanadditional electrode -20 tor cooperation with the electrode -l3- in foirning;V u arc grap iter,- heating purposes.

The bushing leM is provided with an enlarged inner soclteted ent torren ceivingj the upper end of a tubular member w23- 4 having its lower end secured in the upper end or" the collar 1Q- coaxial with the electrode -20-, thereby supporting the last named electrode `trom .the upper end head 3-. The socketed member --22 and collar Nl9 are splitt longitudinally through one side to enable them to be drawn tightly upon the adj acent ends ot the tube 23%- and electrode -20 by clamping` bolts -Q4i passing` through opposite sides ot the division.

The outer end ot the bushing` 'lois threaded and engaged by ay nut tor rigidly securing said bushing' in place upon the head and permitting it to be rc moved when necessary.

n opcratiugg handle or lever -76- is heved or otherwise secured to the terminalv -llclose to the outer end ot the head -iand additioi'ially held in place by a clamping` nut -Q- engaging a threaded portion ot' said terminal.

A tubular sleeve -28- provided at its lower end with an annular flange 99- rinjidly clamped between the meetingl ends ot the lower head -2-- and container sec tion 1- and extends upwardly therefrom nearly halt the length of the container around the electrodes 13 and 20- in spaced relation thereto to l'orm an interveninnv annular water passage Mll* which is open at the top and communicates near its lower end with the interior olf the container -1-- through radial passages 23G- in said sleeve just above the 'flange -QJ-- The exterior diameter'ot the sleeve 28m and also that oit the collar -.l9-, tubular member m23- and soclieted member -22- is considerably less than the interior diameter ot the tubular section -lot the container to form a water-receiving chamber Mv-lwhich extends from the vlannc 2f to the upper head 3-. said llanee serving as a means for cutting ott direct communication .troni the chaniber -land inlet --5 The lower carbon electrode --l lis relatively short in that it extends liront the ter-- minal -l2- in the lower head into the lower end olf the j` assage 2.9L- ot the sleeve 428- and av short distance above the branch passage $0-,

On the other hand, the upper electrode -Qtlextends downwardly through the major portion o't the sleeve -28- to a point within a short distance o1" the upper end ol" the electrode lilto lorm the ,Lap 2l.-, the upper end ol said electrode w20 being extended some distance above the correspending.:` end olI the sleeve 'for se cureinent to the collar l9 wl ich is spaced. apart trom the upper end olf the sleeve *28m but: sonic distance below the outlet tcrn'iinal -ltlis made oli metal or other electric coiiductiinr matei'ialv in electric connection with the adjacent electrode M13- while the collar -19- is also made ol metal or elt-ctric conducting material in electrical contact: with the upper electrode -2tl-- The sleeve -2` connecting the bushiner ---l5- and collar t9-w is prelierahly made ol insulatingy material`r such as porcelain and serves to hold said collar and bushiner in spaced Yiiisulatcd relation and also serves to insulate the upper terminal Alttroni the collar.

lhe thermostatic bar ,l 8 which is cured to and iu. electrical contact with the collar -lilbridges the space between said collar and bushingI -land is adjusted to normally contact with tl i ecrei'itric member -ltlolA the terminal -llto close the circuit through the electrodes and thereby to itorIn an electric resistance at the ,gap -lu lor water heating; purposes.

The thermostatic bar -^l8- may he ot any suitable construction preferably ot the compound bar type in Vwhich the members have dillerent co-etticients oit' expansion and are arranged to open the contact memher -lT when the temjnrature ot the' water in the container reaches a predetermined de-,eree preferably not Igreater than degrees l?. at which time the contactwill be broken and the circuit opened to prevent further increase oit the temperature olf the water.

lt is evident, however, that this maximum temperature may be varied at will b v' simply adjustinn` the eccentric contact member -lt-v rotariliv through the medium ot the liand-piece -3S-.

ll' desired. the main hod v ol' thc container -l and its end heads -2- and -3- may be of insulatiinev ,inateriah `such as porcelain although it is evident that other means may be provided lt'or insulating' the electrodes one trom the other to prevent short circuits and assure a maximum electrical ret-iistance at the nap Zl* and thatother changes may be made in the detail oit construction ol' theI apparatus without dew parting' trom the spirit oi this invention.

@ym/ration.

more rapid than that in the chamber -3l and causes said heated water to expand upwardly and to overilow into said chamber -3land the cooler water in the last named chamber to flow through the branch passages -30- into the lower end of the chamber *294 `for reheating, thereby establishing local circulation upwardly through the chamber -29- and back through the chamber -3l and passages *30- to said chamber -29-- and as the water in both chambers becomes heated t0 the required temperature, it expands upwardly toward the outlet -9- ready for use when the valve -8- is again opened.

This brings the heated water into direct contact with the thermostatic bar nit-- which together with the vcontact member w16* are adjusted to maintain a closed h eating circuit until the temperature reaches a predetermined degree of say 212 degrees at which time, the thermostatic bar 18" will have been deflected to break Contact with the terminal member i6- thereby breaking the heating circuit and preventing further heating of the water until the temperature in the container' falls below said predetermined degree, whereupon the con tacts will again close the circuit through the electrodes for restoring the temperature of the water to that degree, all of which contributes to the maintenance of an even temperature of a small body or" water in the container ready for use at any time by simply opening the valve m8- to expel the heated water through the outlet m9* by the inlowing cool water admitted at the same time, the valve -8- being usually closed before the heated water is expelled.

This device is useful in any relation in which small quantities of heated water are to be supplied intermittingly or at irregular intervals and it is evident that the structural details may be varied ati will without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Vhat I claim is l. An electric water heater comprising a container having an inlet and an outlet, cooperative electrodes of an electric circuit :Forming an arc-gap within the container for heating the water therein and heat-control means in contact with the water within the container `for opening and closing the circuit as the temperature varies 'troni the predeterniined degree.

2. An electric water heater comprising a container having an inlet and an outlet, cooperative electrodes of an electric circuit forming an arc-gap within the container for heating the water therein, and heat-con.- trol means in contact with the water within the container for opening and closing the circuit as the temperature varies from the predetermined degree, said means being adjustable at will 'for varying the period of opening of the circuit and thereby varying the maximum temperature of the heated water.

3. ln an electric water heater, the combination of an upright container having an inlet near its lower end and an outlet near its upper end, cooperative electrodes supported within the container to form an intervening arc-gap between the inlet and outlet but nearest to the inlet, a tubular sleeve surrounding the arc-gap and adjacent portions of the electrodes in spaced relation thereto to form an intervening water passage open at the top and bottom for communication, respectively, with the inlet and with the interior of the container.

4. In an electric water heater, the combination of an upright container having an inlet near its lower end and an outlet near its upper end, cooperative electrodes supported within the container to form an intervening arc-gap between the inlet and outlet but nearest to the inlet, a tubular sleeve surrounding the arc-gap and adjacent portions ot' the electrodes in spaced relation thereto to form an intervening water passage open at the top and bottom for communica tion, respectively, with the inlet and with the interior of the container, said sleeve having a branch passage near its lower end c0nnecting the interior of the sleeve with the water chamber of thel container.

5. An electric water heater coinprising an upright container having a main water chamber provided with an outlet, terminals of an electric circuit in the lower and upper ends of said chamber, an electrode in electrical connection with the lower terminal, an additional electrode in electrical con* nection with the upper terminal and in spaced relation to the first named electrode to form an intervening arc-gap, 'a tubular sleeve surrounding the arc-gap and adjacent portions of the electrodes and communicating with the main chamber, and means for passing' water in to the sleeve to 'be heated by the electric arc.

6. An electric water heater comprising a container having a main water chamber and provided with an inlet and an outlet I electrodes supported within the container in spaced relation to torni an :irc-gap, means for supplying electric current to theelec-y trodes including thernio-clei'atric means within the container :for .controlling thc circuit through the electrodes,

7. An electric water heater comprising an upright container having an inlet near its lower end and an outlet near its upper end, electrodes supported within the container in spaced relation to form an intervening arc-gap near the lower end of the container. a tube surrounding the arc-gaj1 and adjacent portions of the electrode in spaced relation thereto to iorm an intervening passage,

lll

said passage connnunlczrtng with, tlle'nterior of' the cont-(Liner at a. point below the arcgnp, un electric terminal in electrical connection 'with the lower electrode, a thermostaliic lmr in electrcal connection with the upper electrode, en. additional terminal heving normal electric Contact with the ther- Inostate bur and adjustable et will to vary the period of breaking; of the circuit by ille operation o'l' the thermostetc bur, will l0 termnuls forming;` parte of the electrirI crcuit ior Supplying current to the electrode. In Witness whereof 'I have hereunto set my hand this 9th (lay ol? March, 1922.

ALPI-l @NSE LURTI Witnesses NELSON J. Don, lemonn Rosom. 

